Integrity- People of God

We must learn how to guard our hearts because from the heart comes the concerns, questions and disputes of life. Even though the battle for our souls is fought in our minds, to determine how we think and live, it is to win the condition of our hearts. Because it is the heart that will determine our choices, our motivation, consciousness and preferences. Which will ultimately influence and govern our future and the outcome of our eternal soul.

Proverbs 4:23 Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life. NLT

From the time we are born we are being taught the things we need to know in order to navigate and live in this world. We are taught to speak, how to eat and live with family and in community. The focus is on our natural abilities to perform well financially and commercially, yet instructions to the soul and spirit is often times left uneducated, uninformed and neglected,which will determine our destiny.  

Provervb15:7 the lips of the wise spread knowledge (sifting it as chaff from the grain): but the hearts of (shortsighted): fools are not so. AMP

People will go to great extremes to ensure that their children are educated well in the area of intellect.  But they will allow fools and jesters to mislead them and speak into their lives and heartsto corrupt their minds and those of their children. It is the instruction of the soul and spirit that will determine the condition of the heart, a person’s will and their eternal destiny. 

Matthew 12:34 Brood of vipers! How can you, being evil, speak good thing? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. NKJ

We must take time to nurture, cultivate and educate of our soulsand spirits to the truth of God’s word. Which is more importantthan our intellectual education because it impact not only this life but eternity. In times past people were instructed in what was right and wrong according to God’s principles. They were taught self-discipline and kindness as a cornerstone of their education. Society judged a person on how they valued and served others and a person of great character was considered a person of great worth. A society that cared for their old, theiryoung and those who were without were seen as great nations. But now we have seen the values of mercy, grace and compassion replaced with self-importance and the all-consuming need for financial gain. 

Matthew 15:11, 18 Not what goes into the mouth defiles a man; but what comes out of the mouth, this defiles a man. 

But those things which proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and they defile a man. NKJ

If we learn to prioritizes our efforts and focus on the things that will affect eternity we will become a better people, a better nation and a better world. We would no longer allow money,prestige and selfishness to be our main focus but would make the hearts and souls of all mankind a priority.

Some people think they are the successful only if they have thebest of everything, the highest education, most expensive home, car or obtain great fame. Yet they lack in character, integrity and a since of compassion for others, because they have allowed their souls to be fed on the daily diet of greed, self-admiration and hate. This type of rage feeds the heart and produces self-absorption, narcissism and distrust of others. Their moral compass only points to conceit and looking to obtain more for self. None of this is part of our created purpose,which is to reflect the image of God, show His love and to love others. If hate and self-indulgence are all they allow their hearts to feed on it will only produce destruction.

Proverb 23:7a For as he thinks in his heart so is he…

More time should be given to the development of a person’s moral character and integrity, which allows them to make the best decisions for their life. Many people do not have the ability to allow the compass of their souls to point to the true north,which is the principles of God, His love and compassion for all mankind. 

Mark 12: 30-31 And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’  This is the first commandment.  And the second, like it, is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” NKJ

We must guard our hearts and those of our children as to what we allow them to view, hear and what enter their hearts. The tongue is a pen that writes on the hearts of people, especially the hearts of young children whose souls are open and geared to receive instruction. We should use our words to write songs of love and compassion, rather than hate in the hearts of people,because love is our God given calling. 

Psalm 45:1 My heart is overflowing with a good theme; I recite my composition concerning the King; My tongue is the pen of a ready writer. NKJ

Proverbs 4:23 Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it. NIV